Mrs. Doubtfire: The Musical takes the concept of a male actor pretending to be a woman and blends it with a dysfunctional family. Forget the movie version of Mrs. Doubtfire if you go to see this musical.
“Mrs. Doubtfire is a musical based on the 1993 film of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1987 novel Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine, with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. The musical is set in the city of San Francisco, California.”
Rob McClure reprises his Tony-nominated Broadway performance on tour alongside co-star (and real wife!) Maggie Lakis in this musical. MRS. DOUBTFIRE tells the story of an out-of-work actor whose antics lead to his wife divorcing him. He transforms himself into a female nanny persona so he can be with his kids every day. Plenty of silliness and slapstick humor results. Set the bar low and you’ll enjoy this energetic musical. GRADE: B+
MUSICAL NUMBERS:
| Act I “What’s Wrong with This Picture” – Lydia, Miranda, Daniel, Ensemble “I Want to Be There” – Daniel “Make Me a Woman” – Daniel, Andre, Frank, Ensemble “What the Hell” – Lydia, Natalie, Christopher “The Mr. Jolly Show” – Mr. Jolly, Ensemble “Easy Peasy” – Daniel, Ensemble “The Mr. Jolly Show” (Reprise) – Mr. Jolly, Ensemble” About Time” – Daniel “Rockin’ Now” – Daniel, Frank, Andre, Lydia, Christopher, Natalie, Ensemble | Act II “Entr’acte” – Orchestra “The Shape of Things to Come” – Miranda, Female Ensemble “Big Fat No” – Stuart, Daniel, Male Ensemble “Let Go” – Miranda “Clean Up This Mess” – Danie “Playing with Fire” – Wanda, Ensemble “He Lied to Me” – Flamenco Singer, Flamenco Dancers “Just Pretend” – Daniel, Lydia “As Long as There Is Love” – Full Company |
Hated the movie. Never once did I believe that Robin Williams would pass as a woman. The same problem I had with Tootsie. This looks horrible. Just by reading the song titles I am turned off.
Steve, all seven Buffalo performances of MRS. DOUBTFIRE are sold out. There’s an audience for this type of musical.
What Steve said! I have no interest in this sludge no matter how low I set the bar!
Bob, some people like “dress up” films and musicals. It goes back to SOME LIKE IT HOT.
And further. I must admit, the clumsiness of the imposture somehow escaping the notice of Everyone else in all three films was what tended to put me off, and Hoffman’s character’s arrogance (and the actor’s?) in TOOTSIE particularly so…
Todd, I think the tone differed from Dustin Hoffman’s performance and Robin Williams performance. Of course, this version focuses on the music as well as the plot.
I like SOME LIKE IT HOT! Dress up has nothing to do with it! Frankly, I’m not fond of Robin Williams!
Bob, Robin Williams seems to be a polarizing figure.
Not a Robin Williams fan, never saw the movie. I wonder if a performance in Texas would fall afoul of our wonderful state’s lunatic ban on drag shows.
Fred, you make a good point. I wonder if this touring company version of MRS. DOUBTFIRE will go to Texas or Tennessee who have those drag show bans.
Zero interest. I didn’t like the movie at all, I generally do not like drag performances. TOOTSIE had other elements that helped but, basically, left me mostly cold.
Jeff, this version of MRS. DOUBTFIRE gives more insight into the wife. The kids are cute, too!